The Attractions of Tongariro District and Lake Taupo.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1887, Page 3

The Attractions of Tongariro District and Lake Taupo.

Since I wrote last to you another party has ascended tho volcano Tongariro. They started from tho Tckaanu Hotel—a very comfortable place and commodious too, and a splendid basis from which to visit all the surrounding country, where a month can profitably bo spent in examining all the wondrous thing? of thia picturesque, grand, and most impressive district. Here may bo seen springs of various kinds, difl'ering from thoso of Rotorua. Some of them aro saline, and tho bath in one ia most cxhiliratiug. Others create a beautiful gloss upon the ekin, making it beautifully soft aud pleasant to the touch, it is paid Tho water of the Ketetahi spring is almost black, and the Maoris and whites declare it to be of all other baths tho most efficacious for rheumatic affection*, effecting a curs in an incredibly short time. The whole district of Tongaiiro ie, to my mind, fur more interesting than Kotorua ever was, even in the days of the far-famed pink and white terraces. Tho district abounds in wonders and beautiful lako scenery, especially if you choose a clear day for riding round the ba«o of Ngaurauhoe, where a road is in courEe of construction. I hoard Mr Lowis, Under-Secaotary of tho Native Department, givo what, was to mo a rnoet glowing description of tho grand and charming views ho had whilst riding about the district. Here you can see heuing from the mountain the numerous sDringa which form tho Whanganui, Whangashu, and AVaikato River*, gathering in volume by the junctions of numerous tributaries until they form the splendid rivers named. Here I must particularly mention tho Whanganni. In "doing " (as it is oftentimes called) thia district, the tourist will never regret going down that river; many who have done so have spoken in glowing terms of it. At present it is trmorsed for some distance in canne?, but afterwards in boats. Some have (I have heard) ridden from this district to the Whanganui River, then gena down the river, and arrived at tho township iv twenty-four hours. The sister mountains Ruapehu and tha crator Ngauruhoa, though the grandest and most prominent objects, do not by any means comprise all that is to bo seen. The district, including Tongariro range, is teeming with objects most interesting to the inquiring mind. Here may be eeen pocuiiar^fieh which, it ia believed, issue from dark subterranean recesses, winglees web-footed birds in the lake on the top of Tongariro range (how came they there ?) and many other wonders. The landlord of the Tokaanu Hotel (Mr Blake) is untiring in hia efforts to secure the comfort and well-being of all who givo him a call, and will provide on ehorteet notice all nsceesary travelling appliances.

James Davis,